"Yeah, and maybe you'll have developed leadership skills then..." Flo snarled at Gray. He assumed she didn't mean for her to hear him, but he shrugged it off. It wasn't like his other grunts didn't completely hate him, either. Gray watched as Flo walked off. He was a bit ashamed. Someone as talented as her, even a bit attractive (he thought), was gone just like that. Suddenly, there was a sharp pain in his stomach. He looked to his left to see Marren standing there, her fist lodged underneath his rib cage.
"What was that bull crap? Saying it's all clear down here, when it obviously wasn't!" Marren scolded as Gray stepped backward, rubbing his stomach to relieve the pain.
"Listen, I knew I couldn't handle with me and my grunts alone. It's a Pokemon that required both of us," Gray said. Marren gave him a deadly glare.
"You're a commander of Team Arcelago. And worse, you're the grunt who took my place. And you say you couldn't handle a simple wild Pokemon? You're a disgrace, and will always be a grunt in my eyes! And don't even get me started on your grunts!" Marren ranted. There was a gleam in Gray's eyes.
"Don't you talk about my unit like that. I have more authority than you do. You were a commander before, but not now. Before, you were assigned to be in control. Now, you're only a private, and the mission is over. Therefore, I have authority. I want you and your grunts to leave here," Gray commanded sternly. He was surprised at the confidence in his own voice. Marren rose an eyebrow, obviously not expecting Gray to talk back. There was a long silence as each unit's grunts anticipated what would happen next.
"You have my attention, now!" Marren said, smiling her demonic smile. "How about a little bet? We have a one-on-one battle, you versus me. If I win, you have to let me have my spot back as commander of the Azalea unit," Marren proposed. Gray stepped forward, seizing the opportunity.
"And if I win, you stop bothering me, and have to join my unit. However, you have to follow every one of my orders, below the leader's, of course," Gray said. They shook hands.
"Aron, let's go!" Gray shouted, sending out the small, iron dinosaur that was Aron.
"Sandslash, report!" Marren commanded coldy. In a flash of light stood the Sandslash, flashing its large claws and bristling the quills on its back.
"Sandslash, start with a Crush Claw!" Marren shouted. Instantly, Sandslash lunged at Aron with its huge claws, hitting Aron. Aron toppled over from the force of the attack, but stood up quickly, blowing dust out of its nose.
"Aron, Metal Claw!" Gray commanded. Aron lunged at Sandslash with a gleaming, white claw that surged with energy. However, Sandslash managed to jump out of the way, causing the Metal Claw to hit the ground and dissipate through the ground harmlessly.
"Now, Sandslash, use Dig!" Marren said with a cold smirk that was aimed at Gray. Gray clenched his teeth. It was going to be a close one...
"Aron, Iron Defense!" Gray commanded. Suddenly, Aron's body lit up a blinding white, before the light disappeared. Over Aron was a shiny new coat of metal, reflecting light from the flash lights in all directions. Suddenly, Sandslash erupted upward from the ground underneath Aron, sending the small dinosaur into the air. While airborne, Sandslash spun quickly, and struck Aron (who was also in midair) with a spinning Crush Claw, sending Aron flying into a boulder which exploded into rubble on contact. From the dusty cloud emerged a quickly-running Aron, ready for attack.
"What!? It survived a double-attack??" Marren exclaimed.
"Now, Aron, use Headbutt!" Gray laughed with a smirk. Aron crashed into Sandslash with its surprising weight, sending it into the wall nearby. Sandslash fell to the ground, exhausted but not giving in.
"Muh heh heh heh," Marren mumbled underneath her breath. Gray gave a puzzled look at Marren. "We haven't even begun to battle! Now, Sandslash, prepare for victory!"
